Call for better phone coverage

Tasmania's emergency authorities are frustrated that communication is still a problem on the Tasman Peninsula more than 15 years after the Port Arthur Massacre.

During last month's devastating bushfires, power cuts isolated the peninsula and mobile reception was unreliable.

Ian Kingston was a security officer at the Port Arthur historic site on the day of the massacre in 1996 and has worked for the SES for three decades.

He has told 7:30 Tasmania the recent bushfire emergency proved nothing much has changed.

"The recommendation was to give better communications to the whole of our peninsula and following '96, Telstra were the first on board to offer that service," he said.

Stephen Large from the Port Arthur Historic Site says it is crucial to have mobile coverage in an area like the Peninsula.

"Obviously technology has moved a long way since 1996 and communication has improved significantly since then.

"But obviously we were put to the test in a major disaster and I guess we've been seen to be wanting, particularly in relation to mobile phones and I think these days you need to have mobile phone coverage in a place like this," he said.